Good bugs are vital to an organic garden.
Pests & diseases

How good bugs work in an organic garden

A well-balanced garden replicates a wild environment filled with beneficial insects that can help keep pests under control.

Podding peas fresh from the garden.
Vegetables

Planting peas from seed

Peas are one of the most obliging vegies to grow from seed, but a bit of planning helps to ensure they'll provide you with an abundant harvest.

Orange tree in a garden.
Fruit & nuts

Soil secrets for citrus success

There's many aspects of citrus growing that ensure success (climate, tree choice and where you plant it, for example) but it all starts with the soil, writes Helen McKerral.

The fruits have a good amount of sweet and tart flesh around a large seed.
Fruit & nuts

Quirky quandongs

Karen Sutherland has been trying to grow quandongs for years and can now report some success!

Silt is super fine soil particles that  form a hard crust if allowed to dry.
Troubleshooting

Reviving a garden after floods

Scientist Kate Wall experienced the Brisbane floods of 2011 and now 2022: here's two important tips she's learned to help gardens recover.

'Eureka' has a very long harvest period.
Fruit & nuts

Fantastic citrus to try

It's time to plant your citrus and Helen McKerral suggests different options you may want to grow in your backyard.

A Silvereye.
What to plant

Bring in the birds

Libby Woodward tells how she and her husband redeveloped a section of their garden with native understory plants designed to draw in insects, birds and wildlife.

Freshly picked carrots of a variety of colours.
Vegetables

Grow your own root vegies for winter

Karen Sutherland suggests some super-nourishing root vegies for you to plant during this winter from carrots to sugar beets

Helen grows her wasabi in an old laundry tub.
Vegetables

Grow your own wasabi

Growing wasabi means you have this spicy food flavouring ready to be harvested in your own backyard

Miner's lettuce leaves can be eaten fresh or lightly cooked as you would spinach.
Vegetables

Cool salad greens

These cold-loving salad greens can be planted now for a healthy harvest.

Shiitake mushrooms grow on logs.
Vegetables

Grow your own shiitake mushrooms

Kirsten Bradley explains how to produce your own supply of delicious shiitake mushrooms.

Citrus leafminer
Pests & diseases

Pest and disease threats

Penny Woodward suggests two threats to your harvest to look out for in your garden now: citrus leafminer and powdery mildew.